PURPOSE: The World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, designated as 15 June, was initiated by the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) in 2006, and recognised by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/66/127 adopted in 2011. The purpose of the day is to provide an opportunity for communities around the world to promote a better understanding of abuse and neglect of older persons by raising awareness of the cultural, social, economic and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. WEAAD represents the one day in the year when the world voices its opposition to elder abuse, a human rights violation, and enhances the recognition of the dignity of older persons and their right to live free of fear and violence.

FORUM: “Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in Long Term Care Facilities: Through Data and Action.” World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025. With a global ageing population and increasing reliance on institutional care, ensuring residents’ safety and dignity is more urgent than ever. Despite increased awareness, many countries still lack reliable, disaggregated data, and staff shortages or lack of adequate training, continue to create high-risk conditions for abuse and neglect. A World Health Organization (WHO)-supported study revealed that nearly 64% of institutional staff admitted to abusive behavior in the previous year, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change. This year’s theme will focus on the abuse of older adults in long-term care facilities. Whereas most older people live in the community, institutional care is a reality for many. As the need for institutional care grows with global aging, so do concerns about safeguarding the rights, safety, and dignity of residents is of outmost importance. Let’s stand together to protect older adults from abuse — because every older person deserves to live with respect, security, and care. Follow the conversations with the hashtags: #WorldElderAbuseAwarenessDay, #WEAAD, #Elderabuse, #15June, #WEAAD2025.

EVENTS:  On Sunday, June 15th, from 14:00 pm to 16:00 pm (EDT) in the context of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025, the World Health Organization in partnership with Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), UN WOMEN and with support from the International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (INPEA) will celebrate the day and to join forces to remind the world that older people are rights holders, who deserve to live free from ageism, abuse and neglect..

On Monday, June 16h, from 13:15 pm – 14:45 pm ET(EDT) a virtual event to mark the 2025 International WEAAD Commemoration will be held to emphasize both good practices and existing shortcomings, the conference will contribute to stronger, evidence-based efforts to protect the rights and dignity of older people in institutional care. Join leading experts as they share evidence, good practices, and solutions to strengthen protections and drive systemic change. The expert panel will explore the often-overlooked issue of abuse and neglect in long-term care facilities, with a focus on protecting the rights, dignity, and safety of older persons. Panelists will discuss data, practical challenges, and human rights-based solutions to improve oversight, staff training, resident safeguards, and accountability in institutional care settings, drawing on global experiences and recent developments. The event will mark World Elder Abuse Awareness Day and highlight the urgent need for action across systems and settings. Get the Concept Note; The Flyer; The Agenda Programme and Register to participate!

Welcome remarks: Mr. Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief of the Programme on Ageing Section, UN DESA Moderator: Sara Salman - Population Affairs Officer at UN ESCWA Theatrical. Interlude: Waiting for the rain. directed by: Mr/Lazar Jovanov, Demir Mekic, Branka B. Bajic. Panelists: Setting the Scene: Ms. Natasa Todorovic, MPH, INPEA Reg Rep Europe, RedCross of Serbia - Ms. Claudia Mahler, PhD, UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons, TBC - Ms. Lucia Vidovićová, PhD, Masaryk Univ | Faculty of Social Studies, Research Institute for Labour and Social Affairs RILSA, INPEA Rep to Czech Republic - Wenche Malmedal, PhD, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health and Nursing NTNU, INPEA Rep to Norway - Eilon Caspi, PhD, Gerontologist and Elder Mistreatment Researcher, Director, Dementia Behavior Consulting LLC - Robert Brent, PhD, Professor Emeritus, Fordham University, and LTC Ombudsman Closing:Susan B. Somers, JD, President, International Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse.

PUBLICATION: An expert panel will present the overall trends of violence against older persons, which highlight gaps and challenges of implementing the objectives in Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing. Expert panelists will focus on five priorities to combat violence against older persons in the Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021-2030). Get the published report Tackling abuse of older people: five priorities for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing 2021–2030, the resource outline the key priorities to prevent and respond to abuse of older persons and, hence, contribute to improving their health, well-being and dignity.

PODCASTS: Every day, seniors fall prey to fraud and financial abuse. They’ve spent decades carefully saving, only to have their nest egg wiped out, sometimes in hours. It’s a low-risk crime, it’s lucrative, and it’s often unreported. Let’s explains how the legal system can change to accommodate elderly victims and what YOU can do to protect your parents, grandparents, and neighbors from elder crime. Listen to the audio-podcasts!

CAMPAIGN MATERIALS: You are invited to join the World Elder Abuse Awareness Day 2025 campaign “Addressing Abuse of Older Adults in Long Term Care Facilities: Through Data and Action.”. Elder crime is shockingly prevalent: one in ten adults over 60 will be abused in their lifetime. It could be physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, or neglect. Often at the hands of family members. The Elder Abuse: Shift Your Perspective action toolkit includes a series of videos which prompt perpetrators to consider how their behaviour might be affecting older people in their lives. Get the Campaign materials!